Methamphetamine Information & Statistics
Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug which is highly addictive and destructive. Commonly referred to as just ‘meth’, Methamphetamine is often developed in pharmacy labs outside of the United States.
It comes in a powdered form that is dissolved in liquid, snorted or smoked. When taken, meth blocks open the pleasure receptor in the brain releasing an influx of dopamine. This creates an intense feeling of euphoria or a “rush” to the individual. It also intensifies further cravings and need for the drug.
Meth Statistics
The 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports the following:
- Over 12 million people (4.7 percent of the population) have tried methamphetamine at least once.
- Approximately 1.2 million people used methamphetamine in the year leading up to the survey.
Crystal Meth
Crystallized methamphetamine is also highly addictive. It is commonly developed in clandestine labs and has become a considerable problem in regions around the United States. The crystallized form of meth looks very similar to a crystal or to glass. It is most commonly smoked in a pipe and absorbed through the soft lining of the lungs. Increased cravings can lead to further abuse and developing addiction to the drug. This can require addiction treatment from a drug rehab center to address.
Signs & Symptoms of Meth Abuse
Symptoms that someone may be using meth include:
- Increased heart rate
- Increased body temperature
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Insomnia
- Paranoia
- Obsessive focus with performing repetitive actions
- Tremors and jaw clenching
Effects of Meth Addiction
- Continued or chronic meth abuse in its many forms can significantly affect and damage the chemical structure of the brain.
- It can reduce the ability to perform basic motor skills and can also affect the ability of developing memories and emotion.
- Behaviors can radically change in individuals trying to seek out and obtain their next high.
Chronic meth abusers can require intensive help to address the cognitive problems created through extended abuse. The effects on the brain and the individual have shown to reduce or lessen with abstinence over time, but for many it does require professional addiction help or drug treatment.
Meth Withdrawal Symptoms
Meth withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Irritability
- Severe Depression
- Shaking
- Hyperventilation
- Fluctuations in Appetite
- The Sweats
- Heart Palpitations
Addicts who try to stop using meth are often under the impression that there are little to no withdrawal symptoms. This is an inaccurate statement and addicts exhibit serious and potentially deadly withdrawal symptoms.
The length of stimulant withdrawal symptoms varies with the amount of damage done to the addict’s body. One particularly disturbing effect of withdrawal from methamphetamine is the feeling of bleakness or feeling dirty. Often addicts report that they cannot stand their bodies or the way they feel. Depression is so severe during withdrawal that the risk of suicide among addicts is higher and much more frequent than those withdrawing from heroin, cocaine, or alcohol.
Long-Term Effects of Addiction to Meth
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Memory Loss
- Aggressive Behavior
- Violent Outbursts
- Weight Loss
- Severe Dental Issues
- Significant Alterations to Brain’s Chemistry
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Feelings of Fatigue
It is evident that along with the physical effects of meth abuse there are substantial changes in the brain and brain chemistry after its use. Methamphetamine affects the central nervous system along with the brain. This of course can cause paranoid or delusional thinking, cerebral edema, brain hemorrhage, and psychological damage. These effects to the brain can be long lasting and even permanent.
Often the brains of former methamphetamine users showed similar patterns to that seen in the brains of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Scientists now hypothesize that the damage to the brain or dopamine system due to long-term methamphetamine drug abuse may lead to symptoms very similar to Parkinson’s disease.
Meth Addiction Treatment
If you or a loved one is suffering from meth abuse, it is advised to seek outside assistance in quitting. There are many dangers to those who develop a meth addiction and much is yet to be learned about its horrors. Drug rehabilitation provides the right levels of professional help and interventions to address meth addiction. At Cirque Lodge, we base this effort upon a private and effective treatment approach. We are nationally recognized as one of the leading drug treatment programs for anyone struggling with the problems of methamphetamine addiction.
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